Greatest Cubs relief pitcher

[OleMissCub]

Couldn't find any other relievers who would probably be considered among the greatest of the franchise.

 

Lee Smith: 458 games, 681 IP, 644 K's, 180 saves, 2.92 ERA, 1.255 WHIP, 134 ERA+

 

Bruce Sutter: 300 games, 493 IP, 494 K's, 133 saves, 2.41 ERA, 1.057 WHIP, 186 ERA+

 

 

Kent Mercker lolz

[CuseCubFan69]

No Phil Reagan or Eck?

[Ding Dong Johnson]

Sutter should get some extra love for his role in the Ryne Sandberg game.

[CuseCubFan69]

Sutter should get some extra love for his role in the Ryne Sandberg game.

 

Now that was a game I actually had a chance to see!

[OleMissCub]

No Phil Reagan or Eck?

 

I don't think Reagan is on the scale of an all time great with the franchise, maybe so though.

 

Eck doesn't qualify for the pre-reqs I set out, which were 150 appearances with the Cubs.

[CuseCubFan69]

No Phil Reagan or Eck?

 

I don't think Reagan is on the scale of an all time great with the franchise, maybe so though.

 

Eck doesn't qualify for the pre-reqs I set out, which were 150 appearances with the Cubs.

 

Ah, I see. Yeah...Reagan pitched before the closer thing took effect.

 

I can't believe the run of Cub reliever/closers. I used to love Bill Caudill (sp) when he pitched for the A's, another Cub farmhand closer.

[biittner77]

I remember being a kid and wondering why anyone ever swung at Sutter's split finger. It was always in the dirt, no one could hit it anyway so why even swing?

 

The Lee Smith trade was probably the worst trade in Cubs history when you take into consideration the ripple effect it had in the organization.

[OleMissCub]

The Lee Smith trade was probably the worst trade in Cubs history when you take into consideration the ripple effect it had in the organization.

 

Don't my Cubs history as well as I should I guess. What do you mean?

[erik316wttn]

No Kyle Farnsworth? Blasphemy!

[NCCubFan]

My recollection is that Regan was one of the better relievers of that era, before managers started limiting closers to one inning. 1968 and 1969 were his best years, but I think he was fairly good in 1970. For the Cubs I think that qualifies him as one of the best by default.

 

Randy Myers should be included. He had 168 relief appearances for the Cubs from 1993 through 1995. He had 53 saves in 1993, 21 in 1994, and 38 in 1995.

[OleMissCub]

My recollection is that Regan was one of the better relievers of that era, before managers started limiting closers to one inning. 1968 and 1969 were his best years, but I think he was fairly good in 1970. For the Cubs I think that qualifies him as one of the best by default.

 

Randy Myers should be included. He had 168 relief appearances for the Cubs from 1993 through 1995. He had 53 saves in 1993, 21 in 1994, and 38 in 1995.

 

I considered Myers as well, but in the end I figured Sutter would win this pretty handily. I don't really see much point in having a greatest SS or 2B poll either.

[biittner77]

The Lee Smith trade was probably the worst trade in Cubs history when you take into consideration the ripple effect it had in the organization.

 

Don't my Cubs history as well as I should I guess. What do you mean?

 

Lee Smith gave up the HR to Steve Garvey that pretty much clinched the '84 playoffs. Jim Frey never forgave Smith so when he became GM he traded Smith to Boston for Calvin Schiraldi and Al Nipper. Schiraldi never recovered from the '86 playoff loss to the Mets and was very bleh as a Cub. Nipper was never any good.

 

The club needed a closer so they traded Palmeiro and others for Mitch Williams. After a couple years they signed Dave Smith who's out pitch- the astrodome- somehow wasn't effective at Wrigley. Then they brought in Goose Gossage-as usual 5 years after he stopped being any good.

 

Meanwhile, Lee Smith remained a pretty effective reliever. Had they kept him perhaps they could have used those resources elsewhere instead of trying to chase down a "proven closer".

[Ding Dong Johnson]

I don't really see much point in having a greatest SS or 2B poll either.

yeah, not a lot of competition there

[NCCubFan]

I don't really see much point in having a greatest SS or 2B poll either.

yeah, not a lot of competition there

Neifi Perez and Rey Rnez beg to differ. http://www.northsidebaseball.com/Forum/images/smilies/icon_lol.gif

[mcgoobs]

Les Lancaster.

[TruffleShuffle]

latroy hawkins must've just missed the cut

[CuseCubFan69]

My recollection is that Regan was one of the better relievers of that era, before managers started limiting closers to one inning. 1968 and 1969 were his best years, but I think he was fairly good in 1970. For the Cubs I think that qualifies him as one of the best by default.

 

Randy Myers should be included. He had 168 relief appearances for the Cubs from 1993 through 1995. He had 53 saves in 1993, 21 in 1994, and 38 in 1995.

 

I forgot about Myers.